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Published on July 30, 2013 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Lexington County Blowfish News Release


COLUMBIA, S.C.- On a warm humid summer night in Columbia, the (11-4) second half Blowfish held host to the (9-10) second half High Point Thomasville HiToms at Historic Capital City Stadium on Tuesday night.

The HiToms scored early in the top of the first with a leadoff walk issued to Michael White (Louisville), after a wild pitch, White advanced to second. Kyle Brandenburg (Highpoint College) laid down a bunt, Blowfish pitcher, Zach Russell-Myers (Bluefield College), who fielded and threw the ball away into the first base stands. White scored on the play and Brandenburg advanced to second.

High Point Thomasville would score another run in the top half of the third with a doubled up the middle by Brandenburg, with Kyle Martin (South Carolina) singling up the middle scoring Brandenburg.

The HiToms would add one more run to seal the victory in the top half of the third with a lead off walk issued to Alex Rayburn (North Carolina), a SAC bunt from catcher Max Gagnon (UNC Pembroke) advanced Rayburn to second. White advanced Rayburn to third on a 3-1 put out. On the ensuing pitch, Rayburn would score on the wild pitch.

High Point Thomasville went on to beat the Blowfish in the first game of the double header 3-to-0.

Starter for the Blowfish in game one was right-hander Zach Russell-Myers tossing five innings giving up three runs off of two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. Alex Carrasco (Florida A&M), coming in for the final two innings, giving up no runs, one hit, no walks, and one strikeout.

The starter for the HiToms for the first game was right-hander, Chase Cunningham (Belmont), tossing the complete game shutout, seven innings, no runs, five hits, no walks, and four strikeouts.

Columbia would come out swinging in the second game as they scored five runs off of six hits to beat the HiToms by a score of 5-to-3.

High Point Thomasville jumped out with the early lead in the top of the first with a two run homerun off the bat of Kyle Martin.

The HiToms would add one more in the top of the second with a one out double from left fielder Dykota Speiss (Western Carolina). Speiss would score on a throwing error by Blowfish third baseman, Brandon Mitchell (North Carolina A&T). This would be the extent of the HiTom offense as Columbia's bullpen would come in and shut things down from there.

Columbia answered with three runs in the bottom of the third with a three run shot from designated hitter, Chase Shelton (Charleston Southern) his second homerun of the season.

The Blowfish added two more in the bottom of the fourth to seal the deal with back to back walks issued to, Brandon Mitchell and Michael Wilson (Francis Marion). Jake Welch (Bethune-Cookman) singled to left scoring Mitchell from second, taking the one run lead with one out. Leadoff hitter Branden Burris (Spartanburg Methodist) would hit into a 5-3 fielders choice, but would pick up the RBI as Wilson was heads up on the base paths scoring from second on the play.

Starter for the HiToms for game two was right-hander, Shaeffer Shepard (Catawba). Shepard tossed just three innings, giving up three runs off of four hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. Bennet Hixson (Brevard College), came on in the fourth for just an inning of work, giving up two runs off one hit, two walks, and a strikeout. Zach Bernard (Mt. Olive), came in for the final two innings of work, giving up no runs, just one hit, two walks, and a strikeout. Hixson picked up the loss moving him to (0-2) on the season.

Starter for the Blowfish in game two was right-hander, Connor Sullivan (Niagara) tossed four innings, giving up three runs, two earned, off of two hits one walk, and two strikeouts. Stuart Pound (USC Beaufort) came on for an inning of work in the fifth giving up no runs, no hits, one walk and a strikeout. Evan Raynor (Florence Darlington Tech) and Allen Staton (North Greenville) came in for an inning of work apiece; both giving up no runs no hits no walks and no strikeouts. Sullivan picked up the win moving him to (3-1) on the season. Staton picked up his first save.

The Columbia Blowfish will be back in action at home Saturday August 3rd, hosting the Edenton Steamers with first pitch set for 7:05pm. It's play catch with the Blowfish night, as well as South Carolina State Employee Appreciation Night, and a reunion for all of the Capital City Bombers, Columbia Mets, and Columbia Reds! So come on out and enjoy a great night of baseball, memories, and as always a wonderful family environment!

The Blowfish are now (12-5) in the second half of the season sitting in first place of the Western Standings of the Coastal Plain League.

For ticket information you can call us at 803-254-FISH(3474) or Log onto: blowfishbaseball.com

The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, the CPL features 14 teams playing North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,000 alumni drafted and 62 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Twitter @CPLBaseball.

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Coastal Plain League Stories from July 30, 2013


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